The two state commissions responsible for regulating and maintaining sportsmen’s activities, state game lands, and waterways in Pennsylvania—the Game Commission and the Fish and Boat Commission—are currently awaiting for the General Assembly to take the final steps toward allowing them to have permanent financial solvency by passing legislation to allow them to set their own licensing fees.

The Senate Game and Fisheries Committee sent two bills to the full Senate for consideration Wednesday that would, in sum, allow the Pennsylvania Game Commission and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission to set their own licensing fees.

Currently, the two commissions are funded largely by fees from licenses and the mechanism to raise licensing fees rests solely with the General Assembly.

During a meeting of the House Game and Fisheries Committee Tuesday, Rep. Ed Neilson (D-Philadelphia) unsuccessfully attempted to amend a proposal allowing Sunday hunting into a bill that would allow the Pennsylvania Game Commission to set its own licensing fees.

While allowing Sunday hunting is something that has been supported by the Game Commission, it has been unsuccessful in legislative attempts over the last several sessions due to concern posed by landowners and a hesitancy to change Pennsylvania’s long-standing legal tradition of not allowing Sunday hunting.